Stephanie Ganter, D.D.S., is a board-certified periodontist in personal observe in Dallas, Texas. She serves as an ADA Wellness Ambassador and new dentist member on the ADA Council on Members Insurance coverage and Retirement Packages. She accomplished a two-year integrative medication fellowship on the College of Arizona Faculty of Medication, adopted by a one-year surgical management program at Harvard Medical Faculty. Dr. Ganter is a seeker with a world focus that features internet hosting medical-dental mission journeys world wide, all to pursue her mission in life: to attach, uncover and encourage.
Think about standing at a bustling road market in Bangkok, the air stuffed with unique scents and the sounds of a vibrant metropolis. In entrance of you is a vendor, his cart adorned with an array of bizarre delicacies. He gestures towards a bowl of fried bugs, a typical snack in Thailand. For a lot of, this scene epitomizes the very essence of stepping out of 1’s consolation zone. However what if this leap into the culinary unknown is extra than simply an adventurous anecdote? What if it’s a pathway to private development and well-being?
Thailand got here at a particularly busy time in my life, and I’m grateful for the teachings from the integrative medication fellowship that allowed me to take the time to expertise part of the world I’ve all the time dreamed about. I booked the journey by AHI Additional, the lively journey associate endorsed by ADA Member Benefit. AHI supplied a versatile but detailed itinerary that included flights, transportation to and from the lodge, meals and day by day actions. The most effective half for me was understanding this expertise can be with a gaggle. I turned 34 years previous in 2023 — I celebrated a birthday on this journey (bonus!) — and annually, I more and more acknowledge the worth of relationships and the individuals with whom you spend your time as a part of the magic to life.
After an extended however regular journey, my associate, Robert “Bobby” McNeill, D.D.S., M.D., and I touched down in Bangkok. We instantly had been shuttled to a shocking lodge in the course of the town located subsequent to a Buddhist temple and the Chao Phraya River, also known as the “River of Kings” and integral to the town’s commerce. The time we spent in Thailand was break up between the capital metropolis of Bangkok and the northern metropolis of Chiang Mai. We had been in a position to strive numerous conventional and modernized Thai cuisines served by road distributors and eating places. We additionally had what Bobby referred to as the most effective meal of his life whereas eating with an area household at their farm. We toured the farm with an elder who confirmed us lots of the medicinal vegetation his household makes use of of their day by day lives. All of this introduced experiences from my integrative medication fellowship to life.
Now the bug half. At a road vendor in Chiang Mia, we ate bugs. Actually! Fried and stirred up on a stick — speak about being exterior your consolation zone. I used to be hesitant at first, however I additionally didn’t need pointless concern to carry me again. Our native information had not steered us flawed on the prior day’s journey, so I took the leap, nicely, chomp. One was crispy, the opposite not a lot. I truly felt good about pushing my limits. I’ve let pointless concern maintain me again from many issues in life. This could not be a kind of days, as evidenced by this video.
We additionally had the chance to rejoice the religious observe of the Alms Giving Ceremony, an early morning ritual the place locals rise with Buddhist monks headed to their temples for the day to feed the monks. The monks current with an empty bowl and rely on the group for his or her meals. A very lovely and significant expertise.
Our group was a mixture of all generations and by happenstance included two different dentists, orthodontists Terri Neufeld, D.D.S., and Roland Neufeld, D.D.S., from California. Experiencing the world is nice, and sharing that have with a various group of pros made the journey actually unforgettable. Bobby and I’ve a YouTube channel referred to as Between Two Tooth — with the aim to attach, uncover and encourage. Journey is a solution to take a pause from the day by day grind of observe. We’d say it’s crucial. We love our sufferers, our crew and our observe. Nevertheless, part of well-being is taking time away from the abnormal to attach. Connecting with nature, cultures, cities, individuals and your self. Journey could be a solution to acquire a perspective on life. I additionally had three of essentially the most luxurious and cheap massages of my life throughout this journey. Discuss a bodily and psychological reset.
Would you wish to take an journey like this? Do you want an journey like this? There are a number of research exhibiting the advantages of journey for stress reduction and psychological well being, particularly in younger professionals. It’s with an adventurous spirit that I push you to attach, uncover and be impressed by this unimaginable world.
I’ve been in a position to have these experiences and make these connections as a result of I’m a part of the ADA household, giving me entry to the AHI Additional journey program, which affords a reduction to ADA members, and wellness sources that we share on our channel. It’s been an exquisite journey with the ADA and one that can proceed. Keep tuned — actually — to Between Two Tooth.
